I also told them they would be sorry if the a/c device stopped working.
I never want to be the sort of parent who is described as arbitrarily strict. If my kids want to know the reasoning behind the decisions and limitations that I make for them, I am blissful to supply them adequate answers. In other words, I am not going to be like my mom. She was the master of the “because I said so” parenting style. I would much rather explain to my kids why I have made this decision and what my reasons are. For instance, when they want to increase the indoor air temperature or utilize the air conditioner more heavily I am blissful to tell them our financial limitations. They need to understand that energy bills cash and all of our bills add up each month. When my buddy and I use the central heating and cooling system it’s a luxury, not a necessity. They should cherish the air conditioner that my buddy and I have and the temperature control settings that my buddy and I have created. When they go behind my back and adjust the temperature control anyways, they need to understand why I take the central heating and cooling system away from them. That’s what happened last year when they wanted to turn down the a/c much lower. I told them I could not afford to abuse the AC system right now. I also told them they would be sorry if the a/c device stopped working. They went behind my back and adjusted the indoor air temperature lower anyways. That’s what I had to put my foot down and take away the AC system entirely. I told them that the a/c device broke and my buddy and I could not afford to have it repaired for several mornings. After my buddy and I lived without any indoor air quality control for 3 mornings, I am confident that my kids will never touch the temperature control without my permission again.